Thursday was without sleep on Wednesday night as I traveled the whole night. The flights were short (for me), and the turbulence was harsh on the longer flights. The second flight was only an hour on a tiny plane, and it was filled with VFW people coming to Lansing, Michigan, for a sort of convention (it seemed to be a mix of biz meetings and a chance to meet). The AC on the plane was not ready for a full plane.
I arrived intact, and all my luggage and carry-on were also intact, but my car reservation was lost. According to Hertz, they had no reservation, and my reservation started yesterday (!) and was thus lost. They had no cars. Enterprise, the next desk, also had no cars. Leta called me and offered me her car, as Gene, Joyce, and Glenda had a car, and thus, her car was spare. I was going to just use Uber to my hotel (which still had my reservations, but I agreed, and soon, within twenty minutes, Leta and her family came and gave me her car.
They had to go to a meeting with the clergy at Susie’s Concert and then left. I had to adjust my seat as I hit my head on the roof. I also used my iPhone maps to get me to the hotel, and one intersection I thought was a four-way stop was not. I managed to scare some folks, but no paint was lost. I drove slowly in a new (or forgotten) city and soon arrived safely as a Graduate of East Lansing. I used their valet at $35 a day, which was about the same cost as parking in New Orleans, I observed. My room was available, and they let me have it early.
Safe and soon snug, I found my over-the-top decorated pro-MSU team room. I soon was unpacked, washed, and dressed in clean clothing. I love this chain after staying at one in NYC and visiting Cat with her mother, Michelle S. I suspect I will stay at one more soon. While not cheap, everything works, and they are comfortable.
I hit the streets to move some as my step count was low again. The cold and travel in planes reduced me to tiny numbers. Yesterday was my guess (the number was not recorded!), with the extra walks still not breaking 5,000, and I can feel it–I am sluggish. I found the Curious Book Store, as usual, and purchased an H.P. Lovecraft book, The Dream-quest of Unknown Kadath, which I had not seen before. It is a yellowing paperback from 1971, with its back not broken, and it appears unread. I walked next to the Michigan State University (which is across the street) bookstore and looked at the current textbooks for computers and mathematics. I was tempted by a book on combinatorics but remembered the book on codes I got on my last visit was still mostly unread. I resisted that and a book on game design, both computer and physical board games, in the art section. That one looked interesting, but I resisted it, too.
I walked the long way back to my hotel, enjoying moving and the hot sun. My coughing was back from the lack of sleep, exposure to too much poor AC air, and pollen in Michigan (which I remember was none too kind to me). I returned to Graduate East Lansing, thinking of the movie hotel in John Wick movies. The staff used less formal greetings, which disappointed me. “Mr. Wild, enjoy your stay at the Graduate Hotel,” was not heard.
I crashed for a few hours after reading more of my new book. I dreamed strange dreams, and with the jet lag and changes in time (minus three hours), I felt untethered to the local time and space. I arrange to meet Leta (Susie’s mother), Gene (Uncle), Glenda (Aunt), and Joyce (Aunt) for tacos in East Lansing at one of the older places. The food was not as good as I remembered, but was as good as most places. I had the mole chicken enchiladas buried in shredded lettuce (for reasons hard to understand), and it was fine but could have been great.
The chips were baked until hard. Strange. Linda (my sister) and her husband, Jesse, showed up later. A rain storm doused the area, and a band, silent in the taco joint, played outside under a pavilion. Electric guitars and rain usually mix poorly, if not risking shocks. Between storms, Leta and her family headed out, and I stayed with Linda and Jesse for a bit. I was fading fast. Soon, I walked back to my hotel feeling I should have done laps around the blocks, but with the rain, it was best to rest.
Dondrea sent me a capital-letter text telling me to get some rest. Mariah was also sending notes. Yes, it’s time to slow down. I read Lovecraft until I could not read the words (I have trouble with small text now). I showered and then applied my surgery special wash, following instructions. I brought two pairs of pajamas so I could follow directions to wear clean clothing each night. I had to actually acquire three sets to cover this.
I managed to sleep and only wake once, around 1ish (not the usual 4), to prove hydration. Sunrise wakes me.
Thanks for reading.
Alohawild (Michael Wild's) Website 